MuslimKidsMatter | Muslim Kids Strive for Somalia Relief

In November 2011, a group of kids, including myself, decided to work together to raise funds for building a well. When we heard that the Zakat Foundation of America would be able to build a well in Somalia if we could raise $2,500, we couldn't wait to get started. It was tremendously exciting to think that we could help out in providing clean water for people halfway across the world.

Despite our excitement and eagerness, however, we had no clue how we would be able to raise so much money. 'After all, we're only kids,' we thought to ourselves. We didn't realize at the time that the fact that we are kids would help us a lot.

Our main team consisted of about seven to eight kids and our parents who helped us get started. We put our brains together and came up with ways to raise money. One tactic we used was to ask our friends, family members, and classmates for money. We had pretty pashminas to give to people who donated. Pretty soon, we had given away most of the pashminas to our friends at the masjid, classmates and teachers at school, and our neighbors. Many wanted more than one color.

Each of us had our own circle of friends and family who helped us raise money. We went to different schools so we could reach out to different people. There was an Eid party and a friend raised a lot there. I sent out an email to different email lists and that brought a lot of money. Facebook friends helped us in our last $500.

Then we had our bake sale in which we baked many treats to sell at the Zakat Foundation Delaware Center. The bake sale was lots of fun – even for me who does not not like to cook. Each member of our well team came up with something to bake including brownies, cupcakes, cheese breads, and lots more. When we counted the money after the bake sale was over, we were so surprised to see how much we had raised. We got over $250 in the bake sale.

My mother gave us the good news… we had raised more than $4000!

After our bake sale, my mother gave us the good news. Our goal was to raise $2,500 but we had raised more than $4,000 – and in such little time! With Allah's help, we were able to reach our goal and get more than was necessary. This inspired and encouraged us to continue raising money to build more wells in Somalia.

We have already finished raising money for our second well and have started our third well. We feel great to be able to help others and hope others will join us in our efforts to help people around the world.

alhamdulillah, we are on our 6th well right now! :) Our goal is 100 wells by the end of 2012 insha'Allah. The Delaware Youth Well Project Team would love for youth in other states to join in. You can find us on our website/blog at www.usayouthwellproject.blogspot.com.

18 Responses

As salaam’alaykum — The Delaware Youth Well Project Team is doing such a fantastic project to bring clean water to people who desperately need it. May Allah bless each young person and each family giving support to this important work. I have donated and will be donating again during this year of the growth in number of water wells! When many kids are busy with activities that bring them enjoyment they are missing out on doing somthing even better…helping others. I hope other l kids andparents read about this project and decide to start one of their own. ..to raise the funds to dig a water well where it is needed.

Asalamu Alaikum. I’m very proud of the Delware Youth Well Project Team to focus their energies in a project that has tangible differences. I strongly urge parents and kids to share this project and help them to reach their goal of 100 wells. With a national effort, this project will be much easier to complete. Not only will it benefit the kids across the nation by giving them a sense of responsibility to humanity, it will help thousands who do not have access to an essential resource, water.

Assalamu alaikum . I strongly believe that it is a wonderful project and impressed by the initiatives taken by the Delaware Youth Well Project Team. I agree with the comments made by my two previous writers.I hope and pray that kids as well as the adult around the globe will join them to help to get basic pure drinking water at Somalia and elsewhere. May Allah reward each of the participants and make them successful here and hereafter.

Assalmu alaikum Nur
Well done dear. Congratulations on the success of the well project for Africa and the article. I had an opportunity to attend some of your early fund raising events ( pashmina and bake sale) and was very pleased and to see those beautiful children and their parents. May it become a national project to help those children in Africa gettting access to pure drinking water. May Allah (SWT) bless you all.

Assalamualaikum —-Masha Allah such an excellent project undertaken by the youth. We will be asked by Allah swt on the day of Judgement” How we spent our youth”?.May Allah Rahmanur Rahim help you reaching the goal ameen. May Allah reward all of you , your families and those who all are helping.We will donate more insha Allah for the remaining wells.